The Maldives - A Diver's Paradise

Picture a scene of white powder sand and sparkling turquoise waters, lush green landscapes and a perfectly sunny climate. Now imagine relaxing amid this superbly peaceful scene - whether relaxation for you means lying under the golden sun, sipping a cool Pina Colada in the shade, or partaking in some of the best snorkeling and diving opportunities in the world. Are you in paradise? You could say that, after all, you are in the Maldives.

The Maldives is located to the south east of India and it is renowned for many things with stunning natural beauty being just one of them. Hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers flock to the Maldives each year to experience idyllic beaches, tropical seclusion and its sunny year-round climate. One of the most popular reasons people choose to holiday in the Maldives is for its diving and snorkeling. With its vast and diverse marine life, the Maldives makes for one of the world's top diving and snorkeling destinations.

Described as a "treasure trove of marine life", the Maldives is home to many beautiful types of fish, coral and sea plants. In fact, there are more than 700 types of fish swimming around the Maldives' coral reefs and atolls - some of the most common including the skipjack, sweetlips, fusiliers, dogtooth tuna and butterfly fish. With all of this variety, it's no wonder the Maldives have proven so popular with divers and snorkelers for many years. Close to the reefs where it's safe to swim, divers and snorkelers can also expect to see eels, sea turtles, octopus, anemones and manta rays. As well as exceptional diving and snorkeling opportunities, the Maldives is also a popular destination for underwater photography - so don't forget a waterproof camera on your trip.

However, experiencing marine life under the water isn't your only option on a holiday to the Maldives - you can also go dolphin or whale watching by boat. Local dolphin and whale watching companies will know exactly where to take you for the most opportune sightings in the area. There are over 20 different species of whales and dolphins that call the Maldives their home, including blue whales, sperm whales, bottlenose dolphins and spinner dolphins.

Even though the Maldives is the smallest Asian country in terms of both population and area, Maldives holidays have so much to offer - from stunning tropical beauty to a range of exhilarating water sport and land activities. After any trip to the Maldives you're bound to come away with one of the most memorable holiday experiences of your life.

What Everyone Ought to know about maldives

If you choose to travel to Maldives on holiday, you will experience a tranquil setting with a variety of water sports and other activities. However, before you go, you will need to read this Maldives travel guide to ensure you get the most out of your holiday.

The Maldives Islands are the ideal tropical holiday spot, comprised of 1,190 islands in the Indian Ocean. The temperature is warm, the water is clear, and the beaches are unpolluted. You can experience it all first-hand when you travel to Maldives and stay in a waterfront bungalow where you can simply open your front door to a breathtaking view.

Maldives offers many water sports you can try while you're there. You can choose to scuba dive, snorkel, surf or fish, or just sit back and watch the whales and dolphins. Maldives travelers can see a variety of sharks during their stay. Maldives has some 26 types of sharks, including the snaggletooth shark, scalloped hammerhead shark and the blacktip reef shark.

Are you looking for something to do besides water sports? There are plenty of other things to do when you travel to Maldives. Male (pronounced Mah-lay) is the largest city in Maldives. It has a dense population of more than 80,000 people, but it offers a host of attractions. Some of the most popular places to visit include:

* Sultan Park and the National Museum

* The Republic Square

* The Presidential Palace

* The Islamic Center

* The Grand Mosque

* The Fish Market

How to Get to Maldives

There aren't a lot of choices for how to travel to Maldives. No boats go to Maldives on a regular basis. This is because in addition to the costs involved, it is also difficult to maneuver around the reefs. Most people travel to Maldives by plane and arrive at the Male International Airport.

With 89 existing resorts and more in the works, tourism is a booming business. A large percentage of the visitors to Maldives are European, therefore most of the flights come from the UK, Germany and Italy.

How to Travel the Maldives Islands Constance Moofushi

Getting around in Maldives Islands is fairly easy because the distance from Point A to Point B is never very great. Once on the islands, boats are used as the main mode of transportation. Helicopter rides are always an option. Private yachts are also available for local transportation if you are willing to splurge a little.

Environmental Concerns in Maldives

There are a few simple rules to keep in mind during your Maldives holidays. Maldives is experiencing some environmental concerns due to global warming, overpopulation, air pollution and deforestation. The environment is fragile. Therefore, travelers aren't allowed to take any sand or seashells home with them. Fishing is often limited to the catch-and-release method, as well, and travelers aren't allowed to kill turtles. The idea is to preserve and protect the Maldives so future generations also can enjoy the pleasure of these islands.

A Luxurious and Relaxing Holiday Destination

Anyone traveling to Maldives can expect Maldives luxury Resorts, relaxation and fun in the sun. You'll be surrounded by paradise, treated like royalty and blanketed in the warmth of the sun. You couldn't ask for a more picturesque location for holiday than Maldives.

Maldives Are the Ultimate Destination

You may have heard of the Maldives, an island nation located near the equator in the Indian Ocean, but you may not be aware of what an amazing location it is for those who love diving. The Maldives is made up of 26 atolls running north to south, about 700 km to the southwest of Sri Lanka.

The islands are actually the tops of an undersea mountain range and spread out over 90,000 square kilometers. Of the 1,192 islets that make up the Maldives, about 200 are inhabited. The population is greatest in the city of Malé, the capital city, and this is where most Maldives vacations begin, because of the international airport located there.

Over 80% of the land in the Maldives is made up of coral islands, composed of both living coral and coral debris from around 200 different species of coral. The coral reefs act as a protective barrier against the sea, forming numerous lagoons. The barrier reefs protect the Maldives from higher waves off the Indian Ocean, making for some of the best diving on earth! The array of sea life you can see on a Maldives holiday is astounding, with not only corals, but more than 2,000 different fish species, including eagle rays, stingrays, reef sharks, and species that have not even been classified yet Hudhuran Fushi Resort

April to October is the rainy season in the Maldives the season of the moist, southwest monsoons. The temperature year-round is nearly constant, with overnight lows around 25 degrees C (77 Fahrenheit) and daytime highs around 30 degrees C (86 degrees Fahrenheit). Nearly constant cool sea breezes keep the warm climate from being uncomfortable.

The first tourist resorts in the Maldives didn't open until the 1970s, but between then and 2007, over 8 million people visited the nation, and a large percentage of those visitors went for the amazing diving experiences. Usually visitors arrive at Malé International Airport, which is served by flights from Southeast Asia, Dubai, Doha, and Sri Lanka. The Gan Airport on the atoll of Addu, is served by international flights to Milan several days a week.

A diving safari in the Maldives is the ultimate vacation for the person who loves diving. The sheer extent of the waters that can be explored is amazing, and you can book liveaboard diving safaris in which you live on-board cruise ships, cruising the atolls and finding the very best diving spots to explore, under the guidance of Maldivian dive instructors.

Package holidays are available that cover airport transfers to and from the cruise ship. For liveaboard diving, a minimum of a PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent certificate is required, with a PADI Advanced Open Water certificate preferred so that the diver can dive up to 30 meters along with the rest of the group. Divers undergo an initial check guide to check out gear and for the dive guide to assess diving abilities in the group. For divers who would like extra dive support, guided dives can be arranged, usually for a cost of around US$10 per dive.

Maldives diving is the best anywhere, and a diving safari in the Maldives is the ultimate diving vacation. The Maldives as a nation is focused on making diving holidays the best anywhere in the world. There's no question that the coral reefs, the beautiful tropical waters, and the huge array of sea life make the Maldives the best destination on earth for an unforgettable diving vacation.

If you are looking for exciting Holidays to Maldives you will find that there are many things to do on your holiday including Maldives Diving.